Ball-throwing device



Oct. 7, 1930. J. R. LACO ST E I BALL THROWING DEVICE Filed Nov. 8, 1927s Sheets-Sheet 1 O'ct- 9 J. R. LACOST'E 1,777,976

BALL THROWING DEVICE Filed Nov. 8, 1927 s Sheets-Shet 2 O ct. 7, 1930. QJ. R. LACOSTE 1,777,976

BALL THROWING DEVICE Filed Nov". 8, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct.7, 1930 v PATENT OFFICE JEAN LACOS'IE, OF COURBEVOIE, FRANCEBALL-'rnnowme DEVICE Application filed November 8, 1927, Serial No.231,919, and in France Kay 25, 1927.

sends the balls to the player by throwing them at the proper place. Thenew apparatus allows ofdispensing with a professor or an expert player;it can be actuated by a child; if need be, it can be mechanically drivenso as to be absolutely automatic.

The apparatus forming the subject-matter of the invention is essentiallycharacter ized by a spring device which is bent and which, when it isreleased strikes the ball in the same way as a blow froma racket, thenprojects it according to the desired trajectory and in the requireddirection.

It is moreover characterized by the combination with the above-mentioneddevice of aefeeding system which constantly presents a ball to theaction of the spring, in such a manner that the apparatus can rapidlysend a great number of balls and that the interval of time between thethrow of two ballscan be re ulated at will.

' his feedin device can be set in such a way that the hall struck by thespring can occupy a diiferent position in the path of this spring, thusmodifying at will the trajectory.

In the form of construction preferably adopted, a crank actuates a leafspring or springs the free end of which encounters an adjustableabutment which stops the s ring until the latter, having beensufliciently ent, frees itself from the abutment, suddenly relaxes andstrikes the ball.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood, a form ofconstruction of the new ball-throwing apparatus, is illustrated, by wayof example only, in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the a paratus.

Fig. 2 is a section made accor ing to line .AA of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial front view corresponding to Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side view'of a slightly modified form of the invention.

As illustrated in the drawing, the new apparatus comprises a frame a, ofsuitable shape, carrying a socket b in which can freely rotate a shaft 0on which is rigidly secured a crank d.

On this shaft is also rigidly secured a drum e on which is attached theend of a leaf spring f, for instance by means of a bolt 7. The springwinds on a portion of the periphery of the drum and extends in an arm g,the end of which is slightly curved.

This end 9 comes opposite an abutment k which can be provided with a.roller for diminishing the friction. This, abutment is carried by aplate 6 provided with a series of holes 72 this permittin to insert theabutment in one of these ho es, to immobilize it therein by a wing nut hand to adjust the distance between the said abutment and the ball j tobe thrown.

Another abutment la is adapted to limit the relaxation of the spring.

The ball j is the first one of a column of balls filling a feedingconduit Z. The lower end of the latter has an aperture or recess m (Fig.3) permitting the passage of the spring. Moreover, an aperture on thefront side allows the issue of the projected ball.

The conduit Zis carried by the plate 2'. The latter is so mounted thatit can rotate concentrically with the axis 0 and it can be locked in therequired position by means of clamping screws 0 inserted in circularopenings n in the said plate.

The operation is as follows:

The feeding conduit Z is filled with balls. Forthrowing the balls, itsuifices to turn the crank d. \Vhen the spring 9 encounters the abutmenth, it is stopped. It is then bent until it frees itself from theabutment h. At

this moment, it relaxes and violently strikes the ball 7' which is thusprojected forwardly. This ball is immediately replaced by the next onewhich is thrown in the same way upon the following revolution of thecrank. Byadjust'ing the inclination of the plate a by means of the bolt0, the initial direction of the ball is modified and, consequently itstrajectory is altered.

By varying the position of the abutment h on the plate 1', the distancebetween this abutment and the ball and, consequently the free relaxationstroke of the spring are modified before the latter comes in engagementwith the ball, this modifying the speed of the ball on its trajectory.

In order that, after the projection of a ball outside the basev of thefeeding conduit, the next ball may take the place of the preceding oneand may not escape, the base of this com duit is provided with aslightly projecting nose 9. For facilitating the issue of the ball,

this nose might be pivoted and provided with duced. With a speedreducing device this result cannot occur and the speed with which thecrank is turned is sulficiently uniform for paulsing the balls to be.thrown more reguar y.

On the other hand, instead of a single spring g, two springs g and y canbe provided (Fig. 4).

Each of these springs is successively bent against the abutment IL, isreleased and projects the ball. The number of balls thus thrown can bedoubled. This arrangement prevents the apparatus from running'lightdurin an appreciable portion of the revolution, this is so much the moreimportant with a speed reducing device that it is necessary to cause thecrank to turn throu h several revolutions so that the drum of t esprings accomplishes one revolution. I

Instead of two springs, three or more springs might also be provided.

e above arrangements are given by way of example only; the forms,materials, di-

mensions and all detail arrangements can be.

varied without departing thereby from the principle of the invention.

Claims for feeding the balls, an elastic system comprising a platespring and a. rotary shaft carrying the plate spring, an abutment. forarresting this plate spring placed at a certain distance from the ballto be thrown, a support for the feeding system and the abutment, thesaid support adapted to move concentrically with respect to the shaft.

The foregoing specification of my ballthrowing device signed by me this26th day of October, 1927. i

- JEAN RENE LACOSTE.

1. In a ball-throwing apparatus, a system I for feedin the balls, anelastic system comprising a late spring and a rotary shaft carrying theplate sprin an abutment for arresting this plate spring 'placed at acertain distance from the ball to' be thrown, a support carrying theabutment and means for regulating the position of this suportconcentrically with respect to the sha 2. In a balbthrowing apparatus, asystem

